Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns, In All The World

WHAT a time to relaunch a shop, they said. Why not wait until it’s over, they said. You must be mad, they said.

It’s not stopped LD.

The ‘new’ Sautter cigar lounge is now open – a revamp of sorts for the Sautter store at Knightsbridge which has been closed for most of the lockdown(s).

Under the watchful eye of cigar maestro Tomasz Sroka, the new store has had a makeover and is now open, Tuesday to Saturday 12-8pm. It is currently serving cigars and soft drinks (such as the superlative Lalani and Co teas, which have made it onto Laurence’s daily agenda) but we are hopeful of securing the correct licensing shortly, after which we will also be serving fine spirits to accompany your smoke.

Spirits like the amazing Exceptional Whisky from our friend from across the pond, Don Sutcliffe; like the extraordinary rums from our friends at Havana Club; more Scotch than you can toss a caber at in the form of blends and single malts from a range of distilleries – and, of course, last but not least, the remarkable Leggets x Nick Hammond Oriental Cigar Gin from our friend and fellow conspirator, Nick Hammond.

And, it goes without saying that the Sautter Knightsbridge store in Raphael Street will be packed with some of your favourite cigars. Not least a goodly stock from the range of Boutique Smokes, the New World importer run by another friend in Mike Choi – he formerly of the Sahakian Cigar Lounge nearby and runner up in the Habanos Sommelier competition in Havana. He’s a familiar and friendly face on the UK cigar scene.

It’s the first time Mike has had so many of his cigars available in any brick-and-mortar store, so pop down and see what all the fuss is about.

There are other cigars too, from every corner of the cigarmaking globe, with plenty of LD’s beloved Cubans to get your teeth into (literally, if you are Laurence).

So, we ask that you support this bold new take on an old cigar store and nip in yourself when you are passing. There’s every chance you will see El Jeffe within, too; he is splitting his smoking time between Mount Street and Knightsbridge in a most equitable manner.

In the fullness of time, we hope to be able to host small gatherings, tastings and events at Knightsbridge once more, with Tomasz as your knowledgeable host and provider of all things lovely and tinged with cigar smoke. You may well catch Laurence and Nick filming a review or two from there in the not-too-distant future, too.

So, please spread the word, meet up with a pal or two and come down to see us at our lovely new home. It’s not easy creating cigar friendly spaces these days and your support in trying times is appreciated and welcome.